A Comparative Study of Effect of Bipolar Plate Materials on Contact Resistance and Heat Transfer in a PEMFC Stack

Authors

  • Atifi Adil Engineering and Health Sciences and Technologies Research, M2SM, ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Balli Lahcen Engineering Sciences and Applications Laboratory (LSIA), National School of Applied Sciences (ENSAH), Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
  • Hlimi Mohamed Engineering Sciences and Applications Laboratory (LSIA), National School of Applied Sciences (ENSAH), Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
  • El Bikri Khalid Engineering and Health Sciences and Technologies Research, M2SM, ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
  • Hamri Bachir Research Team Quality, Maintenance Safety QSM, Mechanical Engineering Department, Mohammadia School of Engineers, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.32.1.343358

Keywords:

Bipolar plate, contact resistance, gas diffusion layers, PFMFC, heat transfer

Abstract

In this paper, a comparative study based on Finite Element Method has been established in order to investigate the effect of bipolar plate materials on stress and temperature distribution in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack under functioning conditions. The analysis is conducted for three bipolar plate materials: Graphite BP, stamped uncoated stainless steel SS316L, and stamped Niobium coated SS316L. ICR (Interfacial contact resistance) between GDL and BP has been measured for each BP material. The effect of current densities and clamping force on contact resistance under real operating conditions have been estimated at different cell locations in the cell stack. The results show that contact resistance GDL/BP and GDL stress depend on the location of the cell in the stack especially in case of graphite BP and corroded SS316L BP. While, the Nb coated SS316L BP allows for a neglected temperature gradient between the components of the cell stack.

Author Biographies

Atifi Adil, Engineering and Health Sciences and Technologies Research, M2SM, ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

adilatifi@research.emi.ac.ma

Balli Lahcen, Engineering Sciences and Applications Laboratory (LSIA), National School of Applied Sciences (ENSAH), Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco

lballi@uae.ac.ma

Hlimi Mohamed, Engineering Sciences and Applications Laboratory (LSIA), National School of Applied Sciences (ENSAH), Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco

mhlimi@uae.ac.ma

El Bikri Khalid, Engineering and Health Sciences and Technologies Research, M2SM, ENSAM, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

k.elbikri@um5r.ac.ma

Hamri Bachir, Research Team Quality, Maintenance Safety QSM, Mechanical Engineering Department, Mohammadia School of Engineers, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco

hamri@emi.ac.ma

Downloads

Published

2023-09-07

How to Cite

Atifi Adil, Balli Lahcen, Hlimi Mohamed, El Bikri Khalid, & Hamri Bachir. (2023). A Comparative Study of Effect of Bipolar Plate Materials on Contact Resistance and Heat Transfer in a PEMFC Stack. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 32(1), 343–358. https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.32.1.343358

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 1: September (2023)

Section

Articles